French Mining Giant, Orano, Forced Out of Niger, Now Turns to Botswana for Uranium

France’s state-linked nuclear company, Orano, is now turning to Botswana for uranium after being forced out of Niger, where the government revoked its licence as part of efforts to regain control of the country’s natural resources. The move has once again drawn attention to how Western companies continue to position themselves around Africa’s strategic minerals, especially as global demand for uranium rises.

But beyond the company itself, this is also about the kind of deals African politicians and governments are willing to accept. Too often, these agreements allow foreign powers to extract valuable resources while the people in the source countries see little real benefit. Africa has seen this pattern for decades, and France, with its long record of political and economic exploitation across former colonies, is one of the clearest examples of why many on the continent should reject these so-called partnerships.

🗣️French nuclear fuel company, Orano, is now looking to expand its uranium operations into Botswana after being evicted from Niger, where the country’s government revoked its license at the SOMAIR uranium mine in June 2024.

🗣️The Nigerien government decision to force out Orano is part of its wider move to cut ties with France, its former colonial ruler, reclaim control of its resources and sovereignty, and add more value for the Nigerien people.

🗣️Orano has now submitted applications for 15 uranium exploration permits in Botswana’s Ghanzi District, covering about 15,000 square kilometers. A local subsidiary of Orano, Orano Botswana Pty Lyd, was also registered on April 10, 2026, with records showing the French multinational company completely owns it.

🗣️Orano, which made €633 million euros in net income in 2024 and is more than 90% owned by the French government, has long faced criticism for extracting resources from African countries without adding no value to the host countries or the local communities.

• Orano’s move into Botswana marks one of France’s biggest recent mining push on the Continent, this time targeting one of the world’s largest untapped uranium reserves as globally demand for nuclear energy continues to grow.

🗣️This development questions the wisdom and intelligence of African governments continuing to hand over strategic natural resources to western multinational corporations in deals that add little to no value for its people. This foreign multinational deals literally do nothing and adds nothing to the quality of life of African people.

🗣️Time and time again, Africa’s natural resources, minerals, and wealth are being extracted, exported, and turned into wealth and better quality of life elsewhere, outside of Africa, while the local communities who are sitting on those resources and wealth are left with little value addition and barely any control over their own resources, wealth, and economies.

🗣️France, in particular, has a long history of exploitation of its former colonies across Africa through political influence, economic pressure, and resource extraction that primarily serves French interests only.

🗣️The horrific one-sided history of France and Kmt=Abibiman=Farafin=Land of the Blacks (Africa), is exactly why Kmtyw=Abibifuo=Farafina=Black people (Africans) should be suspicious of French state-owned multinational companies like Orano. Governments and politicians on the Continent must be careful of repeating the same old patterns of exploitation disguised as investment and partnership.